Issuu

Vol. 19 Issue 1

Southeast Texas

“Your Money & Your Vote are the two most powerful things you have; Be careful who you give them to.” ~Roy Douglas Malonson, Publisher~

January 27- February 2, 2014 | FREE

19th Anniversary Edition

Serving notice to Leaders to step up or get out of the way! See SHERIFF pg. 4

Read us online! www.a f r a m n e ws .c om

Restore The Voting Rights Act

“From that sad day in June when the Supreme Court issued its decision in the Shelby County v. Holder case striking down Section 4(b) of the Voting Rights Act, my efforts have been singularly focused on crafting a new coverage formula that can pass constitutional muster and win the support of bipartisan majorities in Congress. “The bipartisan “Voting Rights Amendments Act of 2014,” (H.R. 3899), introduced today is the product of many months of hard work, consultation, and negotiations the bill’s sponsors with colleagues across the aisle and with key stakeholders. As a senior member of the

Judiciary Committee a representative of the largest southern state, I am proud to be an original co-sponsor of this historic legislation. “The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is no ordinary piece of legislation. For millions of Americans, and many of us in Congress, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 is a sacred treasure, earned by the sweat and toil and tears and blood of ordinary Americans who showed the world it was possible to accomplish extraordinary things. “As an heir of the Civil Rights Movement, a beneficiary of the Voting Rights Act, and one of only one of three African-

Politics

American women from Texas to serve in the Congress of the United States, and Judiciary Committee member, I worked to pass the 2006 legislation that strengthened and reauthorized the Voting Rights Act. “The Shelby County decision presented a grave challenge to those of us who believe in the sanctity of the right to vote. The legislation introduce today, while not perfect, represents an important step forward because it both is responsive to the concern expressed by the Supreme Court and establishes a new coverage formula that is carefully tailored but sufficiently potent to protect the voting rights of all Americans. “While it is true that the new coverage formula results in fewer

Lead, Follow or Get Out of the Way

The Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) has adopted agency rules that impede the ability of Texas’ uninsured citizens to sign up for affordable insurance coverage in the healthcare marketplace. Although there are some improvements in the revised rules, they still impair the ability of the uninsured to sign up for affordable insurance. The effective date will be February 10, 2014. The Commissioner’s order adopting the rules contains 349 pages; the

TX-2

actual rules begin on page 330. The first 329 pages attempt to justify the rules. Navigators being regulated by these rules will not have sufficient time to comply with them before the TDI registration deadline on March 1st. These rules apply to more persons than the navigator entities that received federal grants under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the individual navigators who report to these entities. The focus of TDI concerns should be on those groups or individuals who do not have any federal ACA certification. TDI should grant provisional registration for certified ACA navigators who present their federal credentials to TDI, and should provide public access to this list of authorized navigators. TDI should let these navigators do what they are authorized to do and help uninsured citizens obtain coverage before March 31st. Eight organizations in Texas received grants to help applicants “navigate” the affordable insurance application: United Way of Metropolitan Tarrant County; Migrant Health Promotion, Inc.; National Hispanic Council on

Aging* (NHCOA); Change Happens; United Way of El Paso County; Southern United Neighborhoods; East Texas Behavioral Healthcare Network (ETBHN); and the National Urban League. These organizations selected more than 44 subgrantee organizations to help in this effort, and they hired a small number of individual “navigators” to help eligible citizens apply for a health coverage plan. In the Bexar County area, Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG) is a sub-grantee of United Way of Metropolitan Tarrant County. ACA navigators have a federal certificate and an identifiable number: the state or a consumer can verify their authorization this way. The state’s “leadership” chose not to adopt a state health insurance exchange, although that legislation had some bipartisan support. The rules just adopted by TDI impose requirements on federally trained and certified ACA navigators (and would-be-navigators) which exceed state requirements for community partners working with Medicaid enrollment. Even licensed insurance agents in

• December 9-15,2,2013 Texas •Texas January February 2014 Texas • 27August 12-18, 2013

covered jurisdictions than before, the legislation contains several key provisions that are consistent with the needs created by a narrower Section 5 trigger. For example, the legislation: Expands the judicial “bail-in” provision of Section 3 so that it applies to voting changes that result in discrimination, whether intentional or not; discrimination). Requires nationwide transparency of “late breaking” voting changes, allocation of poll place resources, and changes within the boundaries of voting districts; Clarifies and relaxes the showing needed to obtain a preliminary injunction to prevent voting discrimination; and expands the authority of the Attorney General to send election Texas are not required under current state law or these rules to obtain and pay for the kind of training or fingerprinted background checks that these rules require. Although certified navigator entities may conduct training for individual navigators, they will have only until March 1st to obtain instruction approval from TDI and also provide the training; that is unrealistic. Here are some points on which I believe we all can agree. Access to early diagnosis and treatment is important to address health problems and keep them from becoming critical or chronic and more expensive to treat. Affordable insurance is the gateway for that access. Since local taxing jurisdictions are not fully reimbursed for these costs by state or federal programs, the burden on local taxpayers decreases when more patients have health insurance. For the first time ever, many uninsured Texas citizens can now obtain affordable health insurance through one of the Affordable Care Act health insurance options. It is a public disgrace that the Texas Department of Insurance continues to yield to political pressure and create obstacles for uninsured Texas citizens by

Honorable Sheila Jackson Lee TX 18th Dist.

observers to protect against voting discrimination.” “It should be emphasized that the Voting Rights Act is intended to protect the right to vote of all Americans regardless of race, ethnicity, or nationality, including language minorities. I look forward to working with my colleagues and others to ensure the legislation ultimately passed by the House and Senate effectively guarantees and protects the voting rights of all Americans." Honorable Ruth Jones McClendon TX 120th Dist.

imposing costly and unnecessary requirements on those who are working to help them. I call upon the Department to lead, follow, or get out of the way.

R.D. Malonson S.A. Malonson Darwin Campbell Chandra Jarmon Bria Taylor-Johns Rebecca S. Jones

Publisher President/C.E.O. Managing Editor Production Web

Distribution

General: news@aframnews.com Ads: sales@aframnews.com Website: www.aframnews.com African-American News&Issues is published by African-American News & Issues, Inc., 6130 Wheatley Street, Houston, Texas 77091, (713) 692-1892. Our office hours are Monday-Friday, 8:15am - 5pm. The entire contents of the paper are copyrighted by African-American News & Issues, Inc. All rights reserved. Material in this publication may not be reproduced in any form without the expressed written consent of the publisher. African-American News&Issues is not responsible for any claims made by advertisers. The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the publisher.

African

Texas • January 27- February 2, 2014

Edit rial & Opini n

GOP Peddles Hard the Myth of Minimum Wage As Job Killer Earl Ofari Hutchinson Author & Political Analyst

The GOP has ruthlessly sold the outlandish myth to millions that a hike in the minimum wage is a huge job killer. It has been so effective in its hard sell that President Obama and Congressional Democrats have repeatedly been stymied and frustrated in every effort they've made to boost the minimum wage nationally. Almost certainly Obama in his State of the Union Address later this month will again demand that Congress, meaning House and Senate Republicans, immediately raise the minimum wage. Some states have hiked the old, archaic, and pitifully low standard minimum wage from $7.25 to a double digit figure that faintly resembles a living wage. The current federal minimum wage amounts to slightly more than $15,000 in annual income. That's not even close to the amount needed to keep a family of four out of the soup lines. You'd have to go back more than four decades to 1968 to find the last year that the minimum wage actually kept pace with inflation for workers. House Speaker John Boehner in a pithy, horribly simplistic, but effectual retort to the cry for a minimum wage increase said "When you raise the price of employment, you get less of it." Boehner and Congressional Republicans cherry pick a few

dated studies and some anecdotal employment figures in some law wage states such as North Dakota with low unemployment to make the case that the minimum wage hurts the economy. At first, glance, that seems compelling enough. But that ignores other low wage states that have boosted the minimum wage and there's been no plunge in employment, or wholesale flight of employers from the states to low wage states that won't boost their minimum wage a penny higher than the federal minimum wage. Boehner also ignores recent studies that found that states that have boosted their minimum wage have not had a plunge in hiring. It doesn't take a course in Economics 101 to figure out that employers increase production and sales when there's demand. Demand increases when workers have enough cash in their pockets to buy more goods and services. It also doesn't take a seat in the same Econ class to know that lower job turnover boosts productivity and reduces business costs. This adds tens of billions more to the economy which translates out to job growth. So studies overwhelmingly back up a huge bump up to the economy from a decent minimum wage. Polls show that the overwhelming majority of Americans support a minimum wage hike, and that includes a significant number of Republicans. Yet, the GOP despite its unpopular, bogus argument against a minimum wage increase has still managed to get its way. It comes down to two things.

American News&Issues

“We MUST never forget slavery, lynching, Jim Crow Laws, the disrespect of the Black race and the first Black president.”

Wake up! We Are Facing “De-Niggerization”

“Wake Up everybody, no more sleeping in bed, more backwards thinking time for thinking ahead...The world won’t get no better, if we just let it be. The world won’t get no better, We gotta change it, just you and me.” ~Singer Teddy Pendergrass The African-American community needs to “WAKE UP!!” It is time not only for us to get in touch with history, but We MUST Understand the clear and present danger of being ignorant of it. I challenge to the community to stand in the mirror and examine the current conditions in the Black community and ask ~What happened to change the progress in the Black community? Understand that up from slavery, our African ancestors left southern plantations with uncertain futures and the perils of starting life with no land, no money, no resources and little to no reading and writing skills. They overcame unemployment and lived under constant threat of death, lynching and intimidation from those who used various dehumanizing methods of torture to create fear and ensure conformity. We MUST Understand that despite all the challenges, Blacks were able to rise up from the challenges to become successful teachers, pastors, inventors, builders, researchers and farmers. They established and supported their our own businesses and opened banks and held influential local and national political offices. It was accomplished because our ancestors had a will to succeed and a desire to fulfill the true meaning of freedom after living over 350 years in bondage. Today, the Black community

has suffered a massive power outage. This loss of power all started at integration. The idea of being equal at water fountains, bathrooms and schools was tempting and seemed like a good idea at the time, but in reality has become our worst nightmare. Since desegregation, we have lost our schools, teachers, our neighborhoods and our way. That loss of the “village” and the absence of positive Black male and female role models living in the community has cost us dearly. As a result of these lapses, we are witnessing the crumbling of the family structures, plummeting education scores and crime and drop out rates soaring to record levels. Black politics, economics and religious power are suffering the same fate, being diluted and “sold out” to the point that we are losing our power bases at alarming rates on every level – thus putting us further behind as a people. We MUST Understand that we as a people are under attack and are slowly being divided up, separated and weeded out. This is a war that could be won by our enemies without firing a shot. I believe we are not being true to our ancestors sacrifices and hard work and that we have failed them, by not truly appreciating their hard work, sacrifices and their challenges and struggles. We have been left one of the greatest legacies in the history of the world and have chosen to have our conscience seared with a hot iron. Black folk are throwing away our greatest strength in the fight for justice and equality because we refuse to face the truth and cannot handle the truth. We MUST Understand that if we don’t change the way we think and behave, we could end

- Roy Douglas Malonson

We MUST Understand By Roy Douglas Malonson, Publisher

up forever on display in historical museums across this country as a race gone forever from the earth. And when we are gone, the knowledge of our struggle and our history dies with us. It is time we stop neglecting the present challenges, mobilize and bring the fight back to the people and the streets and the Black press (media) back to the struggle. One of our greatest problems is that we hold each other back. Turning things around and reversing the current downward trend means we must stop selling each other out and competing negatively against one another. True progress happens when we cooperate and work together. Advancing the dream means having a strategy, putting a game plan in place and a complete united team on the field. Blacks must develop the kind of community spirit that calls on the race to “rise together” and demand an economic justice plan that is designed to lift people up from the bottom of the economic ladder. WAKE UP!! and stop jitterbugging on the graves of our ancestors and become serious and concerned about our history and how it ties into the future of our race, people and our communities. WAKE UP!! because we are facing the “De-Niggerization” of America; if the Black community does not regain touch with its ancestors, roots, history and the urgency of the current struggle... our people are doomed to be wiped out and we will disappear. TX-3

African

SHERIFF from pg. 1

American News&Issues

“The people must know before they can act, and there is no Educator to compare with the (Black) Press” - Ida B . Wells. As the African-American News&Issues celebrates 19 years of circulation in newsstands, churches, barbershops, businesses, homes and many other places across Texas, the newspaper's mission to provide the best news coverage addressing current and historical issues affecting the community is moving to whole new level. Publisher, Roy Douglas Malonson said 2014 marks the beginning of a new era because there is a New Sheriff in town. “We are completely dedicated to being a uniquely different kind of Black newspaper covering all news without fear or favor,” African-American News&Issues Publisher, Roy Douglas Malonson said. “The core mission of the New Sheriff is to make a difference by providing bold new perspectives on news. The world does not need another Black paper that publishes the same news and data that thousands of other diverse papers use.” According to Malonson, Black TX- 4

newspapers have slipped up and drifted away from the shoreline of the main mission to truly stand up, inform and educate the Black community about key issues affecting our people today. The New Sheriff will turn up the heat and restore journalistic “law and order” by holding all newspapers, career politicians, state officials, police chiefs, city councilmen, school board members, pastors and Black businesses accountable for their actions or the lack of action thereof. The new sheriff not only understands the words of Ida B. Wells about the role of the Black Press, but also is committed to working diligently to restore public confidence in that mission. MISSION In 1996, The Malonson Company wanted to dedicate more time to community activism. With that in mind, Malonson envisioned creating a Black newspaper that was solely dedicated to focusing on Black perspectives and dealing with pertinent and relevant news affecting the Black community. “This is the people's paper,” Malonson said.“We welcome people from the Black community to bring us their concerns and

Cover Story

issues. We will do our best to provide them with viable information and a voice to give their input and share their vision and concerns about issues affecting their lives and the quality of life in our communities.” This new level of vigilance means that the New Sheriff will be the voice of the people first, the watchdog monitoring the community's pulse and watching elected representatives with political score cards telling the community what they are actually doing for us. The newspaper will also be the beacon that shines the light on issues and exposes serious discrepancies that affect our quality of life now and in the future. Also, under the New Sheriff, the Black community can expect more serious news that matters to local communities and news that makes a difference and offers viable action plans and solutions that impact the everyday lives of African-Americans living in Houston, Austin, Southeast Texas, San Antonio, Dallas-Fort Worth, and other areas where our communities are. PERSPECTIVE The African-American News&Issues New Sheriff mission is serving notice on politicians, pastors, police chiefs, community and business leaders to step up and lead or get out of the way because too many have led Black folk backwards to the back of the economic and justice buses – a condition that is totally unacceptable. New Managing Editor, Darwin Campbell said this a critical time in African-American history and it calls for drastic measures to educate, revive and invigorate a community suffering from hopelessness, defeatism and a nearly broken spirit.

Texas 27 • August 12-18, Texas • January - February 2, 2013 2014

“The time is now to step forward in a bold and courageous way to help teach and prepare the next generation to be proud of its heritage and advance the struggle for economic justice and freedom,” Campbell said. “Our generation has one opportunity to be that catalyst for change before it is too late. Now is the time to stand up and demand accountability at all levels of community leadership and end our relationships with those (in the community) who have failed in their responsibilities and proven their personal ambitions and motives mean absolutely nothing to the community as a whole.” The three-fold strategy includes the education of the community on key community issues and AfricanAmerican history, challenging the everyday problems that affect the quality of life and improvement of African-American communities and confronting leaders and status quo gatekeepers who have enriched themselves and done little to help ease the economic burdens and financial pains plaguing the community. Some of the items on the New Sheriff's agenda includes examining the state of economic, criminal justice, race issues across Texas, the state of political representation, activism and movement movers. Also, the newspaper will hold accountable and call out politicians, pastors and others that are more interested in padding their own pockets, rather than doing the right thing for the community. Progress in the AfricanAmerican community lags behind Whites, Hispanics, Vietnamese, Native Americans and other races. One of the main drawbacks that has slowed that growth is the lack of unity, selfishness and backbiting on part of some Black political and community leaders in the community. Another problem hampering progress is the unbalanced support and negative competing against one another. The lack of cooperation and divisive cliques that have formed in the Black community

have hindered our growth and development. RESULT A Black community is divided and adrift in hopelessness and apathy. Our historical focus will reignite our appreciation for our ancestors and also teach and give us insight into the best ways to go about forging ahead as a people rather than constantly chasing our tails. HISTORY In order to understand that New Sheriff mission, one must reach back into history to appreciate the burning zeal and dedication surrounding it takes to be a Black newspaper vanguard. Samuel Cornish and John B. Russwurm, described it best when they said, "We wish to plead our own cause. Too long have others spoken for us." The two sent strong notice to a nation and community that it needed a New Sheriff at that time and the Freedom Journal was born. It became the first African-American owned, operated newspaper published in the United States in 1827. The Journal was published weekly in New York City from 1827 to 1829, according to information from the Wisconsin Historical Society. The newspaper provided specific international, national, and regional viewpoints information on current events and contained strong editorials opposing slavery, lynchings, and other injustices against African-Americans. It also published biographies of prominent African-Americans and provided historical listings of births, deaths, and marriages in the African-American New York community and circulated in 11 states, the District of Columbia, Haiti, Europe, and Canada. To continue reading this story visit www.aframnews.com

Cover Story By: Darwin Campbell, African-American News&Issues

Community

Texas •January 27 - February 2, 2014

Dreams of a Son, Loss of a Father

Quanell X attends a Candellight vigil in support of the family of Jordan Baker Sin 19 ce 94

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HOUSTON- Jordan Baker had a dream. It was not a lofty dream to change the planet, but a dream to make a difference in the lives of those around he touched. Nothing was more important than his number one priority – being a father and raising his son. Today, it is a story of what might have been because that one day will never come. Jordan Baker's dreams are a memory now, silenced and shattered forever all because of racial profiling and the bad judgment of Houston Police Officer, J. Castro who fired the shots that ended Baker's dream. The 26-year old father was gunned down by the officer working at a small shopping center on Antoine and W. Little York Road. Allegedly, only the wearing of a hoodie sparked the incident. Reports have confirmed that Jordan was unarmed. The shooting is the center of community outrage as once again the Houston Police Department joins other departments across Texas in demonstrating that the value of the life of an African-American males is not given full consideration when life and death judgments are made by police officers. “Jordan had goals and dreams. He was a positive person...all that was cut short...,” said Janet Baker, his mother.

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“He was a good young man who was kind to everybody. His positive personality brightened everything around him.” Janet Baker said she named him Jordan as a reminder of the biblical Jordan River because she thought he might grow up and be a leader. “His name indicates “leadership” and the principle in his name defined his character,” she said. According to his mother, the light in him shined brightly, especially when he spent time with his son. Jordan grew up without a father in his home, but despite that would tell his mother growing up that one of his goals was to grow up and be a real father. “He looked forward to fatherhood and showed it when he had a son,” she said. “He often told me I have a job to do and I am going to do it. I am going to set an example for my son.” She said he was determined to break that cycle of growing up without a father and proved that by stepping up to be a real father to his son. “I would enjoy seeing them spend time together and how he related to his son,” she said “They were so close. It made me love being around them and gave me a good feeling as a parent.” Jordan was also a student at Houston Community College. He was on his way to his dream of getting a Bachelor's Degree, but also wanted to learn a useful trade as a certified welder. She said growing up, she could see his talents develop as a youth working with his hands and doing math problems in school. “One of my greatest memories was the building of a swing,” she said. “My neighbors, friends and I remember that and still talk about to this day.” Friends described him as a person of strength and character, discipline and caring. The words were the same no matter who you asked. “He never thought of himself and often worked to help others,” she said.

She recalled a time when he tried to find jobs for six of his unemployed friends and helped another man who was terminated from a job. He even made phone calls for interviews and helped some with resumes. Houston Activist Quannel X said that Jordan was “guilty” of only one thing – being a young African-American male wearing a hoodie. “This man was not committing a crime and Jordan did not have a weapon. He was only looking in windows,” Quannel X said. “If you are wearing a hoodie, the first thing the police do is racial profiling, assuming a crime is about to take place.” Houston Police Chief Charles McClelland noted no weapon was found and gave a brief interpretation of the alleged training involving the use of deadly force – training and procedures that are sure to be questioned during this investigation into Jordan's shooting. Quannel X contends that the Houston Police Department and Harris County District Attorneys Office will not be forthcoming with the investigation. He is calling for an independent review by a special prosecutor, the FBI, U.S. Justice Department and oversight by the Texas Rangers and a full review of surveillance tapes. “It is tragic because this mother no longer has a child and this son no longer has his father,” Quannel X said “What can you say to this family that justifies taking the life of this young man.” Janet Baker said what she will miss more is his presence because he was not only a loving son, but also he was a true friend. The sadness of her loss is evident as she tearfully shared,“Jordan was and is my everything...,” she said. “A light has truly gone out for mankind.” Story By: Darwin Campbell, African-American News&Issues TX- 5

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Texas • January 27- February 2, 2014

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African

Texas • January 27- February 2, 2014

February Feb. 4 - Feb. 5 Tuesday - Wednesday

PVAMU Ministers Conference Opal Johnson Smith Auditorium Prairie View, TX 77446 Beginning at 9:30am For more info contact: (936) 261-3590 Thursday

HPD

Chief Charles A. McClelland

Acres Home Chamber for Bus. & Eco. Dev, Inc. Networking Luncheon 6112 Wheatley St Houston, TX 77091 From 11am -12:30pm For more info contact: (713) 692-7161 Fax: (713) 691-7131 info@acreshomecenter.org

Feb. 6 - Feb. 23 Thursday - Sunday Ensemble Theatre The Meeting 3535 Main St Houston, TX 77002 *Various Showtimes* For more info contact: (713)520-0055 www.ensembletheatre.com

Friday St. Paul AME Church “God’s Army...The Fighting AME of St. Paul” 1554 Gears Road Houston, TX 77067 Beginning at 7:30pm For more info contact: (832) 722-1905 admin@stpaulamehouston.org

Friday Buffalo Soldiers Nat’l Museum Black History Month Essay Contest Essay Submission Deadline: February 7, 2014 For more info contact: (713) 942-8920 info@buffalosoldiermuseum.com

What’s Happenin’ in 2014

Saturday New Mt Olive BC Workshop 4706 E. Mt. Houston Rd Houston, TX 77093 Beginning at 6pm For more info contact: (713) 306-5020 deaconlgarvin@yahoo.com Saturday Houston Museum African-American Culture Film Screening “Brownstones to Red Dirt” 4807 Caroline St Houston, TX 77004 Beginning at 1:30pm For more info contact: (713) 526-1015

Feb. 8 - Feb. 9 Saturday - Sunday

American News&Issues

St. Paul AME Church Exhibition 1554 Gears Road Houston, TX 77067 (2/8/14) From 10am - 5pm (2/9/14) From 1pm - 5pm For more info contact: (832) 722-1905

Sunday New Mt Olive BC Men’s Annual Day 4706 E. Mt. Houston Rd Houston, TX 77093 Beginning at 3pm For more info contact: (713) 306-5020 Thursday President’s Lecture Series St. Philip’s College Watson Fine Arts Center 1801 Martin Luther King Dr San Antonio, TX 78203 Welcome Center (WEC), 107-A From 11am -12pm For more info contact: 210-486-2670

Thursday Houston Area Alliance of Black School Educators Awards Ceremony 1001 Avenida De Las Americas Houston, TX 77010 Beginning at 6;15pm For more info contact: (713) 459-6171 ksrichards@aldine.k12.tx.us

Friday Houston Museum African-American Culture Forever, For Always, For Love 4807 Caroline St Houston, TX 77004 From 6:30pm-Midnight For more info contact: (713) 526-1015 www.hmaac.org

Saturday Acres Home Chamber for Bus. & Eco. Dev, Inc. Digital Computer Classes *Members Free* 6112 Wheatley St Houston, TX 77091 From 10am - 12pm For more info contact: (713) 692-7161 Fax: (713) 691-7131 info@acreshomecenter.org

Saturday Houston Museum African-American Culture “Troop 491: The Adventures of the Muddy Lions” 4807 Caroline St Houston, TX 77004 Beginning at 6:30pm For more info contact: (713) 526-1015 www.hmaac.org

22 Saturday RAP Coalition of Gtr

Houston Relatives as Parents Conference Depelchins Children’s Ctr 4950 Memorial Dr Houston, TX 77007 From 8:30am - 3pm For more info contact: (713) 460-0781 rapp@voatx.org Thursday Houston Museum African-American Culture Film Screening “Sing Your Song” 4807 Caroline St Houston, TX 77004 Beginning at 7pm For more info contact: (713) 526-1015 www.hmaac.org Friday Buffalo Soldiers Nat’l Museum 14th Annual Gala 9401 Knight Rd. Houston, TX 77045 Beginning at 6:30pm For more info contact: (713) 942-8920 buffalosoldiermuseum.com

Post Your 27 Event Here! 15 Saturday Character Camp

Open Your Heart Gala 8505 Cypress St. Houston, TX 77012 Beginning at 6:30pm For more info contact: (832) 235-4260 www.charactercamp.net

Sunday First Baptist Church FBC Praise Dancers 844 Fortune St Houston, TX 77088 Beginning at 11:30am For more info contact: (832) 892-5078 Friday HCCS Black History Gala The Hilton Americas - Houston 1600 Lamar St. Houston, TX 77010 Beginning at 6pm For more info contact: (713) 718-5242 hccs.edu/blackhistory

Support those whom support you!

March

Thursday Rev. William “Bill” Lawson

This should be your event

Email your Community Event information to news@aframnews.com

2 weeks in advance

15 Saturday Acres Home Chamber

for Bus. & Eco. Dev, Inc. Digital Computer Classes *Members Free* 6112 Wheatley St Houston, TX 77091 From 10am - 12pm For more info contact: (713) 692-7161 Fax: (713) 691-7131 info@acreshomecenter.org

Mar. 20 - Apr. 14

Thursday - Monday Ensemble Theatre By The Way, Meet Vera Stark 3535 Main St Houston, TX 77002 *Various Showtimes* For more info contact: (713)520-0055 www.ensembletheatre.com Friday Acres Home Chamber for Bus. & Eco. Dev, Inc. 25th Awards Banquet Speaker Craig Washington 6112 Wheatley St Houston, TX 77091 From 11am -12:30pm For more info contact: (713) 692-7161 Fax: (713) 691-7131 info@acreshomecenter.org

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Educati n/Y uth

HISD Provides Laptops for PowerUp

Texas • January 27 - February 2, 2014

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

Freshman Makes Region Band

James White from Eisenhower Ninth Grade School, Aldine ISD, made the Region Band performing on the trombone. He went on to perform with the Symphonic Winds in December at Barbers Hill High School School.

More than 18,000 students are receiving laptops this month as part of HISD’s one-to-one initiative that will eventually give every high school student a computer to use at school and at home. The initiative, called PowerUp, not only will offer students 24-hour access to a laptop and a variety of software, but to digital-age instruction that will transform teaching and learning both inside and outside the classroom. “PowerUp is not about the device,” said Superintendent Terry Grier. “This is about creating anytime-anywhere learning for our students so they can have the world at their fingertips. We want to make sure they learn the skills that complement technology so they aren’t replaced by technology.” Grier announced the PowerUp initiative during his address at the 2013 State of the Schools, asking staff, city leaders, local businesses, and community members to visualize a classroom where teachers use technology to create interactive instruction. Less than a year TX-8

later, students at 11 schools in phase one of the project are receiving laptops, and teachers have spent an entire semester learning how to use the device and a variety of digital resources to make their instruction more engaging, interactive, and student-centered. “I am excited, and my students are excited,” said Madison High School teacher Shannon Smith. “I have already started using more technology and web tools in my classroom for instruction, and now I will be able to take it to the next level. Many of my students can’t afford a computer, so this is really going to equalize the playing field at Madison and at many HISD schools.” Smith and teachers from the 11 PowerUp campuses in phase one received their laptops last August and have been attending weekend, after-school, and early-release-day trainings developed and provided by HISD’s instructional technology and professional development departments. These trainings will continue for the remainder

of the 2013-2014 school year. In addition, a group of “early adopter” teachers, as well as campus leaders from each of the 11 schools, are participating in regular training sessions with staff from the Mooresville Graded School District in North Carolina. Mooresville has one of the most successful oneto-one initiatives in the U.S. and has seen impressive academic gains since the program was implemented six years ago. “Teacher training was a priority from the start of our PowerUp project, and working with Mooresville only reinforced our strategy that teacher training and development needed to be a crucial part of our implementation plan to ensure the success of PowerUp,” said Chief Technology Officer Lenny Schad. “I continually tell people that this is not just a technology initiative. This involves almost every district department including curriculum, professional development, leadership, communications, and instructional technology.” In addition to training and

professional development for teachers, HISD’s curriculum department has created an enhanced set of documents that incorporate an expanded and robust set of online instructional strategies and resources for teachers to use in their classroom. The documents link to currently adopted instructional materials, online district resources and database subscriptions, and other high-quality online instructional resources and materials. A package of key instructional software is also loaded on each student and teacher laptop. Additionally, each device is pre-loaded with districtapproved filtering software that blocks keyword content and inappropriate websites, including some social media sites, while in use at school, home, and anywhere that has Internet access. Before students are issued their laptop, they are required to take a digital citizenship class that reviews the district’s policy on the proper use of technology and electronic services. Both parents and students also must also sign a laptop loan/acceptable use agreement and pay an annual $25 non-refundable security deposit. The 11 schools in phase one of the initiative are Austin, Bellaire, Chavez, The Energy C

CMY

Institute, Kashmere, Lee, Madison, Sam Houston, Sharpstown, Young Men’s College Preparatory Academy, and Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy. In phase two, 18 high schools will be added during the 2014-2015 school year, and an additional 15 high schools will distribute laptops in phase three during the 2015-2016 school year. HISD is repurposing dollars from others areas and using Title I and Title II funds to pay for the majority of the costs associated with implementing phase one of PowerUp. Because the initiative is comprehensive and involves more than just technology upgrades, money spent in other areas has been redirected to carry the burden and minimize impact on the overall district budget for the 2013-2014 school year. The cost to lease a laptop (which includes software and warranty)1213_FAST_Ad_2x2.pdf to each student is 1 6/21/2013 9:30:31 AM roughly $260 a year.

Texas • January 27 - February 2, 2014

Business Profile

Raymond G. Glass II

His calling is youth and his number one priority is dedicated to their success. Harper Alternative School Principal Raymond Glass II is a native Houstonian a proud graduate of Mirabeau B. Lamar High School and Prairie View A&M University. Harper is an alternative school for special education students with severe behavior problems grades 6-12 and ages 13-22. Crossroads is a program that is housed at Harper for students that have had problems with drugs and or alcohol. His love for education started while in school. As a high school student, Mr. Glass participated in marching, concert and stage bands. While in marching band, Mr. Glass was appointed drum major of the band which lit a fire in him to lead others. This desire to lead catapulted Mr. Glass into the field of education. It is here that he caught the bug again, as a substitute teacher, and found his calling to help students whom others had given up on. It is that motivation, desire and passion that helped him decide what to do. “When I was in school, I never thought I’d be a teacher. It was never on my mind,” he said commenting on making a career decision. “I was a political science major with a minor in biology, and my mother told me I needed to take some education courses. Initially, I was going to go to law school, but I decided to sit out a

year before I did anything.” As as substitute teacher, his desire to help young people increased. “I subbed a lot in Special Education classes around the district...,” he said. “I thought, Hey, the kids aren’t that bad. With some help, and somebody to spend some time with them, they’ll do okay.” As a result of that experience, the Houston Independent School District offered its first Special Education Alternative Certification Program and he joined the program. Glass said he learned a great deal from students and mentors and it helped improve his skills, attitude and vision making him better prepared to serve youth needing those same talents and skills he brought to the job. One of those key lessons along the way came from his first teaching job at Harper. He learned to work with and understand a young man his grandmother had took care of who was mentally challenged. “She took care of him ever since I could remember,” he said. “We always got along, but as I got older and came in contact with other people like him, I really understood that they had a need for someone to help them—and I guess I became that person.” As a teacher at Harper, Mr. Glass taught all levels of special education classes in grades 6-12. He served as the SDMC chairperson, the summer school coordinator, mentor teacher and the interning Middle School Assistant Principal. He was then promoted to Assistant Principal at W.I. Stevenson Middle School, where he was in charge of students in all grade levels. His duties included maintaining instructional rigor throughout the campus by using walkthroughs and professional learning conversations. Another lesson came while he was the assistant principal at Stevenson Middle School. As one principal was preparing to retire, he looked at the need at the school

Business and decided to return.“My thought was that if I didn’t help them, no one would,” he said. “ No one fights for the kids like the people at Harper. My battle cry is that these kids need support.” He was concerned about how the public responds to those needing help. So, Glass decided to make an investment in the youth and said he has had no regrets about the decision. “If they get enough support, one day, the door’s going to open, the light’s going to shine, and they’re going to get it,” he said. “I’ve been here 15 years now. We have graduates who have gone on to become firefighters, butchers, nurse practitioners, master plumbers, ministers, and so on, so it’s not that they’re not capable.” One of the greatest highlights of his career has been the development of the culinary arts program The program has been part of Harper since 1985, when it became an alternative campus. “The program has really flourished in the past couple of years,” he said. “When we first moved to our current location about five years ago, we didn’t have a kitchen, so the kids spent the first one-and-a-half years working in a partitioned-off area, and other students would sometimes throw stuff over the wall. They said they felt like they were in a fish bowl, so when we finally got a kitchen area, they named it the Glass Café.” Glass said the school also has a great agricultural program also including having a garden on campus, and the students grow greens, squash, corn, broccoli, and other things. His message to others wanting to be teachers and mentors is simple: Never quit and never give up on young people. “I tell all my new teachers, look, your reward doesn’t come your first day and it might not come from the kids you expect it to, but one day, someone will come in and say, ‘Yeah, I remember you and if it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t have done thus-n-such, or become who I am today. So you’ve just got to keep on working,” he said.

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Real Estate Market Zooms Into Record Territory

HOUSTON- The Houston real estate market ended 2013 as it began: in the fast lane. Surging home sales throughout Greater Houston were largely driven by the addition of more than 86,000 jobs that drew buyers and renters from all around the country and world. December marked the 31st straight month of positive home sales and was a month in which prices again rose and housing inventory shrunk to new record lows. According to the latest monthly data prepared by the Houston Association of REALTORS® (HAR), December single-family home sales increased 14.3 percent versus December 2012. Contracts closed on 5,813 homes, driving inventory down to 2.6 months supply, the lowest level of all time. All housing segments saw gains in December except for the low end of the market— those homes priced at $80,000 and below. Homes priced from $250,000 and above registered the highest sales volume and accounted for another hike in prices. Andrea Cooksey of Houston based Quality Properties 360, said the latest real estate numbers on housing are

encouraging. “The housing market is very healthy,” she said. “This is a great time to get back into the market.” She said whether AfricanAmericans are in the market to buy or sell, the climate is right to do business. In areas within a 25 mile radius surround the city, demand is up and land values are skyrocketing because relocations and the law of supply and demand is driving the current surge. “Supply is low and demand is high,” she said. However the boom has not touched every community because some African-American areas in Houston are just recovering from the downturn in 2007 and 2008. “The market is stabilizing in areas that were hardest hit by the economic downturn,” she said. “These areas remain very affordable and have land, but do not yet have the housing stock needed to grow.” According to Cooksey, the Tidwell, Pinemont and Garden City areas appear to be part of the surge, while Acres Homes and Sunnyside lag, but remain stable. To read more visit: w w w. a f r a m n e w s . c o m TX-9

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Religi n

Texas • January 27- February 2, 2014

42nd Annual MLK Day Celebration

(l-r) Gertha Hayward, Rev. Jasper Hayward, Jasper Troy Hayward (l-r)Ron Reynolds, Sylvester Turner, Sheila Jackson Lee, Constable Alan Rosen, Senator John Whitmire, Shirley Ann Malonson,Roy Douglas Malonson, Pastor F.N. Williams, Lane Lewis

The reality of Dr. Martin Luther King's dream lives on through citizens in the community who have dedicated to a lifelong of labor and service to their community. Recognizing that service and leadership was the focus of the 42nd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Celebration at Antioch M.B.C. The event was sponsored by State Representative Sylvester Turner, The North Churches, the Houston Baptist Pastors and Ministers Fellowship and Antioch Missionary Baptist Church. Pastor F.N. Williams Sr., who served as master of ceremonies and also pastors the church, said this year's tribute was memorable and should cause Black people not only to refocus and recommit to advancing the dream that Martin Luther King Jr. lived and died for. “The dream is still alive,” Williams said. “Dr. King gave his life for freedom and the cause. We must participate, do our parts and use our voting power to make a difference.” The night was fi lled with singing, prayers and praises for the progress, but highlighting the evening were the honorees who sparked the ceremony with their motivating words and a special King Day message from Pastor Ralph Douglas West, founder of The Church Without Walls. TX-10

Those honored for their dedication and community service included businesswoman and Acres Home resident Gertha Hayward, African-American News&Issues Publisher Roy Douglas Malonson and Pastor F.N. Williams, Sr. A host of dignitaries were present for the event including U.S. Congressional Representatives Sheila Jackson Lee and Al Green, longtime State Sen. John Whitmire, State Rep. Ron Reynolds, District B Council Member Jerry Davis, Precinct One Constable Alan Rosen and Lane Lewis, county chair of the Harris County Democratic Party County to name a few. Hayward, who received an 2014, Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Award, was both surprised and humbled by the recognition. She said her main goals in life have always been to serve God and work hard and be an example to all people living in the community and coming to her shop . Mrs. Hayward is the sole proprietor of L&L Barber Shop, where she has served customers and the community for 49 years. She is the wife of the Reverend Jasper Hayward, pastor of Greater Community Missionary Baptist Church. After receiving her award, Hayward thanked the audience for years of friendships and patronage at her salon.

Publisher Roy Malonson was presented the 2014 Martin Luther King Jr. Trailblazer award by Sen. Whitmire for his work in the community as a mentor and for his efforts to keep the community informed on issues with the AfricanAmerican News&Issues. Malonson accepted the award and then dazzled the crowd with some emotional jaw dropping, eye opening comments about the state of African-Americans and Martin Luther King's dream in the community. Congresswoman Shelia Jackson Lee also presented Williams, now 85, with a special lifetime achievement award and a United States Flag for his untiring community service and efforts to model King's dream by fi ghting for justice and civil rights in Houston. Williams encourages more participation and for Blacks to take ownership of the community and use our resources and powers to push forward to dream. Pastor West encouraged each to remember Dr. King, but work to continue the dream by doing a self examination, being a community “light” and resolving to work, serve and help the whole community improve. Story By: Darwin Campbell, African-American News &Issues

Rev F.N. Williams, II

Councilman Jerry Davis

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Texas • January 27- February 2, 2014

Texas HBCU Corner

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Wiley’s White House Choir Performance

HOUSTON - Over a year after its choir’s historic trip to Washington D.C. to perform a holiday concert for guests at the White House, Wiley College is still abuzz about the once in a lifetime experience. The A Cappella Choir of

The A Cappella Choir of Wiley College in Washington D.C. Wiley College performed an “Traveling to our nation’s opportunity meet the President afternoon concert at the White capitol to sing at the White of the United States, if one looks House. And while singing in the House is an experience our at the photo they took with Presmost famous house in the world students will always cherish,” ident and Mrs. Barack Obama, was an honor for the students, said Tammy Taylor, Wiley’s the smiles on their faces tell us they were equally honored Director of Public Relations. more than any words could.” to meet President and Mrs. “And while I can’t describe how The students chronicled their Barack Obama. they must have felt to have the experiences at the White House

Communication Week

More than 25 speakers from California, Washington, D.C., and New York, to Michigan and Texas will convene on campus for the Department of Languages and Communication’s inaugural

Communication Week. The event will include classroom lectures, roundtables and workshops. Students will meet with communication professionals and practitioners to examine

and discuss career opportunities and interests in public relations, journalism, media production, documentary film making and academic careers, among others. “We’ll have hands-on workshops in media production, resume and portfolio development, and landing jobs in Hollywood and beyond,” emphasizes Palmer, department head. “PVAMU alumni will be instrumental in the week’s success.” Program Coordinator Lewis Smith and Assistant Professor Toniesha Taylor have been instrumental in arranging the program with Palmer. Alumni participants include: Charles E. Williams, Jr. ’84, producer, director and editor for CBS-TV in New York, Shedrick Cortez Stokes ’84,

CEO SCS Films and Kayla Tucker Adams ‘97, senior director of public relations for The Potter House and T.D. Jakes Ministries have committed to the event. Sheleah Hughes Reed ’01, PVAMU executive director of communications, Richard White ’09 who is a production assistant and assignment editor for Houston ABC affiliate KTRK and Amen Oyiboke-Osifo ’11 a graduate student at the University of Southern California are also slated to speak. Many of the week’s speakers will also participate in the 2014 National HBCU Student News Media Conference hosted by the department as part of Communication Week and which will have more than 150 participants from around the

in The Wiley Reporter, the college’s magazine. “Hardly a week passes that I don’t receive requests for the magazine that features the students’ trip to the White House,” said Ms. Taylor.

country. ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith will round out the event. “Clearly, the range of activities on campus that week will be amazing and fully studentfocused,” said Palmer. The department is also hosting its third annual American Forensics Association District 3 National Qualifier. Senior communication major Tarynn Adams has cleared her schedule to take full advantage of the activities. “As graduation gets closer and closer, I am trying to be exposed to everything the field has to offer me. There aren’t a lot of chances to talk to professionals about how to break into television or public relations. I don’t want to miss a single chance to get a job or meet someone important.”

Support OUR Texas HBCUs! If WE don’t, then who will?

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Texas • January 27 - February 2, 2014

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